Colorado ride

Day Three

Today was going to be a day of dual sport riding. The other Okies were camped about 60 miles North of us, and we wanted to stop by their camp to say hello on our way up to Crested Butte.
We had to check out Kagens bike since we hadn't started it or tested it since we had it apart. I kept thinking of the old bikers rule...never do a major repair before a ride. But it all checked out and we loaded up.





Jon has a 650 Wee-Strom. I always thought they were only good for dirt roads and smooth trail. Jon proved me wrong.





We made it up to the other camp and everyone was gone except for Dwayne. We told him to meet us at Sargents the next morning for a singletrack ride we were going on with Salida Bob. He said he would tell the other guys and meet us there.
We rode on to Crested Butte. North and a bit West of town we went over a pass, but I can't remember the name. The road was very narrow, and I have no idea what two cars do when they meet. The road was only one lane wide for about 6 or 7 miles up...
This is a view back towards town from the top. The ski area is over to the left of the Butte. The town is over on the right a bit.




We headed back south. It was late, and we still had several passes to go over before we got back to camp. Big dark clouds rolled in and I thought we would surly get rained on. We rolled back in about 8pm right as it started raining. Bob was waiting for us when we got there, and we planned the next day's ride.

Bob is as good a guy as you'll ever want to meet. Not only was he willing to lead us on some of his loops, but he also was willing to let me ride his spare bike!

Day Three 252 miles

Favorite smell - The rain
Favorite sound - Bob when he said he had I bike I could ride!
Favorite sight - Camp when we made it back before the rain
Favorite feel - Bed
Favorite taste - Spam. I know, but I was freakin starving, and we didn't stop to eat because of the storm.

Edited by Durtrider - 28 Jul 2010 at 11:25pm

Nice video , what was at the top Kagen ......

Day Four

We had decided to meet Bob Daniels at Sargents at 10 for a guided ride. Sargents was over Marshall Pass, about 25 miles from our camp. Bob was nice enough to let me ride his spare bike, a KTM 400 that he has set up for the mountains. We decided to eat an early breakfast and trailer over. We had told Dewayne over in the Okies camp the day before of our plans, but we didn't know for sure if anyone would show up.

We got to Sargents just a bit after 9, and it wasn't long before Bob pulled in.



I was super stoked, because I thought I wouldn't be able to go on this ride. I knew these guys would be riding some singletrack, and since I didn't know how technical it was going to be, I didn't really want to get into something I would regret on an LC4. As it turned out, it wasn't all that technical, but it was freakin awesome! Black dirt, single track, some atv and jeep trail, a few climbs, side hill, scenery, and most of all, I was able to join them! Bobs bike had a trials tire on, and for the rocks and roots that is really the hot ticket.

I don't normally like to borrow anyones bike, but Bob was at our camp the night before, and he kept insisting that I ride his bike. (Did I say he is a super nice guy?)

Bob knows this area like the back of his hand, and right at 10 the other guys rode in. There was Chuck, Dewayne, Gene and Dick from Tulsa, Robert and Mike. These guys had just ridden 45 miles to get there, across Black Sage and Wannita Pass in the cold morning air. Mike and Robert decided to do the Bonanza loop, and the rest of us rode out.

I'm having a bit of trouble with my photo sharing uploader, so I can't get some of the pictures in...but I didn't take that many anyway. Bob sent me a couple of shots of all of us eating lunch. He also sent me a GPS picture of the loop we rode that day, but I can't get my photo service to cooperate. Maybe I'll get them in later...

I had a helmetcam on though, and I have almost 2 hours of video. Since I was on Bobs bike I had agreed to ride sweep all day. This is a video of the kind of trail we were riding. I was right behind Dick from Tulsa. Dick is a great guy and really funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJG3ZQZFSzo

At a few different places in the ride, someone would be looking around and lose focus. It only takes a second and your off the trail.
Since I had been on sweep, I wanted to get up behind Kagen for a bit and get some film of him. The guys let me by, and we took off. I couldn't believe how dusty it was, since the night before there had been a downpour in this same area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAsczYhdsY

This was really a fun ride. All in all, we only did 65 miles for the day, but the other guys still had 45 miles to ride back once we hit Sargents.

On a side note, Mike and Robert had found our camp. Those sorry dogs put rocks under all of our tents...   So they have some payback coming!

Another great Colorado trip is in the book. We may go back up this fall for another shot at the Rainbow Trail. If you've never seen the aspens when they turn gold and shimmer in the sun...well, you can't imagine how pretty that is.

Day Four - 65 miles. Eight riders.

Favorite smell - I didn't have one. To much dust in my nose from riding sweep
Favorite sound - "Whitey, i really want you to ride my bike tomorrow. Trust me, it will be fine. No, really, I want you to!"
Favorite sight - Riding sweep has it's advantages. Coming down the side of the mountain on a side-hill trail and seeing 7 other riders spread out in front of you is pretty cool.
Favorite touch - The feel of a trails tire bitting into the rocks and roots on an uphill climb. No slippage...

Favorite taste - Savoring the memories of the trip!






Edited by Durtrider - 08 Aug 2010 at 10:22am

Great report.  Love the videos also.